Thankful, Tearful, Fisher Says Goodbye

In mid-sentence, mid-farewell, Derek Fisher stopped, composed himself, and started again.

Having agreed Thursday to leave the Lakers for the Golden State Warriors and a six-year, $37-million contract, Fisher had said his goodbyes to “my guys” -- Devean George, Rick Fox, Luke Walton and others -- and to the only NBA team he’d ever known.

When it was time to say so long to Los Angeles, however, Fisher, the sensitive one in an often cold locker room, the first to cry when a season ended poorly, did again.

“Make sure your readers know that I appreciate them,” he said. “Add a quick thank you somewhere in the column to all the fans who had something nice to say to me, who shouted and screamed for me. Tell them I said goodbye, and thanks.”

In the month since the Laker season ended, ownership has let Phil Jackson go, traded Shaquille O’Neal and nearly lost Kobe Bryant. Familiar faces and games have left, new ones have arrived. Assistant coaches are looking for work.

So, in keeping with his mostly low-key career, Fisher drifted out the door. General Manager Mitch Kupchak made an 11th-hour run at him, but Fisher already had his offer and an impression the Warriors had bigger plans for him.

“Mitch obviously was distracted with so many things he had to deal with,” Fisher said. “I understand that. He probably couldn’t really put the type of effort he would have if those things weren’t in front of him.”

In the end, Fisher said, the Lakers made a “respectable offer.” He said thanks, but no. At 29, he has won three championships. He lived the Laker life for eight years, the last five some of the most turbulent the league had ever seen.

When teammates argued for the basketball, Fisher got open, went to the corner and waved his arms. When big dogs refused to guard the porch, Fisher took charges. When they hid in the trainers’ room or crept through Staples Center’s kitchen, Fisher dressed at his locker, turned around and answered for them.

“There comes a time,” Fisher said, “you can’t continue to defer to those guys.”

A year ago, hoping to defend better, the Lakers signed Gary Payton to be their point guard. Fisher was crushed, said nothing, and by spring was getting as much or more playing time than Payton. Due $3 million next season, he opted out of his contract, became a free agent, considered places such as Houston, Seattle, Toronto and Miami, talked one last time to the Lakers, then accepted an opportunity in Golden State, where the basketball team hasn’t played a postseason game in more than a decade.

“I had a pretty uneasy feeling about returning,” Fisher said. “I didn’t feel it was going to work. Mitch and Dr. [Jerry] Buss had so many things to work out as far as keeping the franchise at a championship level.”

Bryant is back. Some of his friends are back. But the money was better in Golden State, the length of the deal was better and, on Thursday morning, the whole thing felt better.

“It was an extremely tough decision, mentally and professionally,” Fisher said. “I think it came down to, professionally, there’s still some things I want to accomplish. I’m looking forward to a new challenge. I’m excited about the prospect of being a part of a franchise that’s interested in making its way to the top.”

Some of the usual obstacles remain. The Warriors have Speedy Claxton and Nick Van Exel in their backcourt and, late in the season, Mike Dunleavy played a lot of point guard, what some NBA observers believe to be his best position.

But new Coach Mike Montgomery impressed Fisher with his vision of the game and where the organization was headed.

By then, there was only one thing left to do: Say goodbye.

“It’s still the Lakers,” Fisher said. “You can’t knock that away. There’s too much tradition, too much history. As far as what I’m leaving behind, Kobe is very determined to still be successful in this league.”

Emotional again, he said, “It’s hard. I’ve grown up with just about everybody there.... Hopefully, I’m leaving behind the fact that people could appreciate and respect what I’ve done for the organization. This is just a part of life. And a part of business.”

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Brian Shaw will remain as a scout after being rumored to join Coach Rudy Tomjanovich’s staff. Shaw, who has been coaching the Lakers’ summer league team with veteran assistant Bill Bertka, will continue as a college and advance scout for Tomjanovich, who already has added Larry Smith and Frank Hamblen as his top two assistants for next season.... The Chicago Tribune reported that Bryant had hoped to visit the Bulls in Chicago during the free-agency period. Teams are forbidden from providing private jets to free agents, however, and Bryant apparently has not flown commercially since being charged with felony sexual assault.

Times staff writer Lonnie White contributed to this report.